Plug-in Solar Updates Week of 4/19/26
Legislation Moving Forward
Virginia
Virginia passed its plug-in solar bill into law becoming the third state to do so. Virginia’s new rules will take effect January 1, 2027 and the bill stands out for its strong protections for renters. It was part of Governor Spanberger’s affordability agenda demonstrating that plug-in solar can be part of policy changes to save Americans money at a time when costs are rising rapidly. I plan to cover more details of the bill in an upcoming post.
The press had been reporting that Virginia was the second state to allow plug-in solar. That was of course not true because Virginia’s bill was not yet law. A bill becomes law only after the governor signs it, allows it to become law without a signature, or has their veto overridden. Source: Schoolhouse Rock
Canary Media does great work covering this space. Jab made in jest.
New York
The New York Senate unanimously passed S 8512 and the bill now must pass the Assembly. Before it is voted on in the Assembly it must go through the Assembly energy committee. This is very promising for plug-in solar as New York is the fourth most populous state.
California
California’s SB 868 had a hearing on 4/20 and was placed on the committee’s suspense file (this means it is being held for review). While California’s bill is moving a bit more slowly than other states, it is the most important state for plug-in solar because it is the most populous state in the US and has the second highest residential electricity rate (after Hawaii).
Advocates Already Planning for 2027
On Plug-In Solar Guide many states are categorized as “Deferred until 2027” because their bills were not passed in 2026, but advocates are already gearing up for the next year. Here are just two examples:
Oregon
In Oregon, an organization called Third Act is already thinking about 2027 with the goal to introduce a new plug-in solar bill. This week they published a newsletter with events this summer, resources, and shared an email for anyone who wants to get involved.
New Mexico
This week Elizabeth Karen Paramanandam published an article on LinkedIn laying out a roadmap for introducing a bill in 2027.
Renters are Being Left Out of Many Plug-In Solar Bills
As a renter, plug-in solar appeals to me because I do not have the option of putting solar on my roof. I have lived in four different apartments, and will be moving to a fifth this summer. I do not recall the details of every lease that I have signed but at my current apartment and next apartment the leases prohibit even drying clothes on the balcony. Most renters will not be allowed by their landlords to install plug-in solar unless the bills protect renters’ right to install plug-in solar. Virginia’s bill has language addressing this:
“No landlord who owns more than four rental dwelling units or more than a 10 percent interest in more than four rental dwelling units, whether individually or through a business entity, in the Commonwealth shall prohibit a tenant from installing a small portable solar generation device on the exterior of the tenant’s premises.”
Not every bill includes language like this. Utah’s bill does not. California’s bill in its current state does not. If we want to emulate Germany’s success with plug-in solar we need to make it a right for renters and condo owners to install plug-in solar like Germany has done. Unless the bills protect renters’ right to install plug-in solar, plug-in solar will stay a niche market in the US. We can always add these protections later, but I am advocating to put them in the original set of bills being passed.
Plug-In Solar Guide is Getting Noticed
I am grateful for all who have shared or mentioned my site to their audience and wanted to share links to their content so readers of my blog can check it out:
The site was mentioned at the end of this Suncast podcast episode. - The episode did a great job of explaining some more of the complex details around plug-in solar.
The site was featured on a Watts the Tea LinkedIn Post. - Check out Watts the Tea for clean energy news.